He has brandished 35 yellow cards and awarded two penalties while his only red card was shown to Watford’s Valon Behrami in their 1-0 win over Swansea last month.

The appointment reflects the vast improvement of the Wakefield-based whistler, who has now been selected for Premier League duty for seven weeks running after being in the middle for Stoke’s 1-0 win at Swansea on Monday night.

Monk says ref Robert Madley "didn't know what a foul was tonight" but accepts penalty was right call #Swans

The Ossett-born official largely impressed during four seasons in the Football League before exploding onto the Premier League stage by sending off three players on his debut in West Brom’s 3-0 win at Southampton in April 2013.

Bobby Madley: probably up there with Mike Dean as the most arrogant ref in the @premierleague

Minority: Only 10 of his 30 games last season were in the Premier League (Picture from Sky Sports)

Although he is often involved in controversial moments, Madley – who took charge of both legs of the FA Youth Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City in 2014-15 – is not afraid to make brave decisions and is high on the merit table after some good displays of late.

It will be a first Tyne-Wear derby in the dugout for both managers – Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren, with Allardyce set for his first home game since replacing Dick Advocaat as boss.

Advocaat won his first Stadium of Light match against the Toon Army when Jermain Defoe’s volley earned a 1-0 win in April – and the Black Cats will be desperate for a sixth straight derby win which would be their first in the Premier League this term.

Newcastle were the only other winless team until they got off the mark themselves with last Sunday’s 6-2 thrashing of Norwich at St James’s Park.

(Reuters) - The return of all-rounder Ben Stokes will be a welcome boost to the England squad as he provides much-needed balance and lifts morale, team mate Moeen Ali said ahead of the two-match test series in New Zealand.

(Reuters) - An emotional Juan Martin del Potro could barely believe he had finally won a Masters 1000 series title at the 51st attempt at Indian Wells on Sunday but is determined to keep the trophies coming in his late career renaissance.